Saturday, June 27, 2015

Today we rejoice because the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests is ordaining Kathleen Ruth Ryan as a priest and Edmund John, Kim Panero, and Phoebe Joan as deacons in Albany, New York. Like the mystics, prophets and rebels in our spiritual tradition, these ordinands celebrate God’s boundless love and all-embracing presence everywhere and in everything.

As our consciousness expands of our evolving cosmos, we rejoice that there are 18 galaxies for every person and that our bodies are made of stardust. Every place we turn we join the mystical dance of creation, celebrating our connection and oneness with all living beings in divine love.

We serve one another in inclusive, empowered, mystical and prophetic faith communities, as we work for justice and equality especially for those on the margins. We care for one another and for our earth as co-creators with God in the community of creation.
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As Elizabeth Johnson envisions in Ask the Beasts, the infinite creativity of God is moving within us opening up fresh possibilities. She writes: "The indwelling Creator Spirit grounds not only life's regularities, but also, the novel occurrences that open up the status quo igniting what is unexpected, interruptive, genuinely uncontrolled and unimaginably possible (p.173)."

As pilgrims on a journey to a renewed model of priestly ministry, we have experienced many grace-filled opportunities, challenges and many surprises. Just read our books, blog postings and visit our website to get a glimpse of the creative Spirit at work in the chaos of our spiritual adventures and efforts to facilitate inclusive communities of equals!

Rabbi Jesus, a prophet reformer, turned patriarchy upside down when he chose women as disciples and treated women as equals in his beloved, empowered community. Like Jesus, our women priests movement is revolutionary. We challenge the Roman Catholic institutional Church to treat women as spiritual equals in all areas of the church's life including ordination in a renewed priestly ministry.

Like the mustard seed, we too are blossoming as we have grown from the Danube 7 in 2002 to over 210 in our international movement.

Homily: Kathleen Ruth Ryan

Most often at ARCWP ordinations we will hear a gospel reading about women- Mary of Magdala-- Martha and Mary- the Samaritan Woman---so many wonderful gospel stories about women. But today we hear the familiar gospel reading of the Mustard Seed. The Mustard seed is very small so small that it is almost impossible for me to hold without dropping it and hard to see even if you are in the front row. There is nothing in this mustard seed that would tell you of its abundance-its great potential-its possibilities. Jesus compares this tiny seed to the kin-dom of God. Each of us here today is here because of a small seed planted within…a whisper-a gentle pull- a tug at the heart…a quiet but constant yearning.

Look around at the person next to you …in front of you- behind you—perhaps there is nothing that you see outright but what potential---what possibility--- what great love there is.

This tiny Mustard seed grows into the largest of shrubs..it provides safety-shade and a home for all birds. You and I find safety and a home in the smallest of kindnesses, actions, and affirmations.

Mystics experience God/the Holy One everywhere in everything and in every person-no matter the size. You and I are mystics when we experience the Holy One everywhere in everything and in every person…just like this tiny seed…we too have the potential with our smallness to be great in this kin-dom of the Holy One. We stand on the shoulders of the great prophets and mystics who have gone before us. They spoke to the people of their time and still speak to us now. Phoebe Joan, Kim, Edmund John and Hildy Gerard will reflect on the mystics then and now.

Homily: Phoebe Joan

There is no end to our work.

As companions on our journey, I am grateful for the spirit of love that permeates our time together, and for the holding up of each of us during this precious time.

The wind comes among us and stirs our souls to respond in new ways, unforged ways, and yet ancient ways as well. The mystics that walk with us know this; so many came before us.

Each of us here on the altar and with us in our community, responds as best we can to the call of our human beingness, and to the knowing of our spirit.

Do we see each other for who we are? Only God can really see the whole. And so, we continue our search, and continue our days of gratitude for just being.

In our space together, we create this momentous occasion; we share the sacred here in our midst. My constant prayer is one of gratitude for allowing me to be here, and readiness mixed with hope for the time to come. May we each love fully, thank graciously, and know that we are living our God-given lives to the fullest. I follow Jesus in Peace and Gratitude.

Homily: Kim Panaro

The 19th century mystic St. Therese of Liseaux has been my companion during my ordination journey. Therese felt called to the priesthood and wanted more than anything to be a missionary. As a young person I was able to experience mission work in Nicaragua. I sat on the protest lines in acts of civil disobedience and briefly went to jail. I too felt called by the Gospel to offer my all to be in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed and those threatened by violence. For both Therese and myself however, the path was moving toward a different kind of witness.

At age four, Therese felt the sting of death because of the death of her mother. She felt the loss of her older sisters leaving to join the convent before her. She entered the cloister at Carmel at 15. In order to do this she had to break some conventions and rules. She found the courage to confront the patriarchal authority of her father, her uncle, her local bishop and finally the pope himself. Once she entered however, Therese found that her life was not going to be about grand gestures but rather smaller daily acts of kindness. Finally, she faced the shattering truth that she would die a painful and early death of tuberculosis. She developed a belief that the heart of the church is love and so ultimately her vocation was love.

During the last 18 months of her life she was able to explore her shadow sides. The ways in which atheism made sense to her, the fear that religion is a colossal joke with no ultimate truth, the ways in which physical pain would have tempted her to kill herself but for her faith and the need to die constant , small and invisible deaths to her ego are but a few of her themes. She considered her death at age 24 a gift because 24 is the age she would have been ordained had she been male.

Like Therese, the last few years of my life have involved a level of physical, mental and emotional pain that I have sometimes wondered if I have the faith and courage to endure. I sometimes lack the amount of time, energy, stamina or clarity that I want.

Therese has helped me understand that it isn’t about what I think I “should” do but rather how I act on my faith that matters. I can take whatever strengths and limitations I have and use them in to be more compassionate and loving. Whether it is a pat on the back for one of my students, a listening ear for a friend, or sharing my certainty about the loving presence of God in my life, I am called to be of service out of my love of Christ. The one thing I know without any doubt is that we can never be separate from the Spirit of the God of the Cosmos.

My ordination is my promise to serve with love, with a willing and open heart. God calls us to respond to the circumstances of our lives. This is the call of Therese and all mystics. It’s the challenge for all of us in this room today. As other’s have said, the purpose of life is to find something so important to you that you would die for it, and then live for that. We find strength for that, like Theresa did, in the Divine and through one another.

Homily: Edmund John

Mechthilde of Magdeburg, a mystic of the 13th Century, had visions every day for 31 years beginning when she was 12. At the age of 20 she left a very comfortable life and moved to Magdeburg where she joined a group of Beguines, communities of women who lived and worked among the poor and sick of society.

Her writings describe God’s deep desire to connect to each soul. They speak to the caring, loving relationship each person has with God. They present how we are to live that same love in our everyday life. Mechtilde writes:

“When are we like God? I will tell you.In so far as we love compassion and practice it steadfastly,to that extent do we resemble the heavenly Creatorwho practices these things ceaselessly in us.”

As I have reflected on these words, it makes me think of the many times that Jesus touched or was touched by those to whom he showed compassion. It is the intimacy of connection that brings change allowing the other to believe that they are healed. Jesus lived his ministry to assist others to see that they were deeply loved by God, by Amma, and that her love knows no bounds.

I chose Mechtilde because I believe that each of us, like Jesus, are capable of touching others with compassionate love, assisting them in realizing that “I who am Divine am truly in you…however far we be parted, never can we be separated, I am in you and you are in me.” It is the Good News that each of us is part of the Divine nature of God.

The message from Mechtilde of Magdeburg, for us gathered here today, is to be open to the love and longing that God has to connect to our souls, while calling us to be messengers of the Good News, to be healers to the world, to be prophets in our time, to be mystics hearing and sharing the voice of the divine. In Mechtild's words:

“Have you heard the singing, the song of God serenading the universe? From break of day to fall of night, this God-song sings in my heart”.

Homily: Hildy GerardWhen I first learned of Hildegard of Bingen, I was astounded by her boldness and courage, yet she expressed so much more than those qualities. As a little girl of five, she experienced powerful visions which probably scared her and caused those around her to question her. Supported and educated by Jutta during her spiritual formation, she developed the focus and strength to listen to the God within her who was calling her to speak, paint, write, compose, sing, preach, heal and lead.

Hildegard was anything but a saintly, submissive and passive woman. We can learn from her. I do. When I struggled through grief and depression, I thought of her often. She struggled too and yet God called her and allowed her to develop into the woman she was called to be. Each of us is called to something and that call is not to perfection. These four people standing before you today are publicly responding to a call away from what Hildegard described as spiritual ‘lukewarmness’ and towards spiritual courage. I am awed to witness their courage and commitment.

As a 12th Century woman, Hildegard stood up to corruption and patriarchy wherever she saw it – in the church, in the kingdoms of her time and in all places of power. Hildegard also said “I want to be useful.” That simple statement reflects my call as well. It is a response to live in recognition of my own gifts and to use them, surrounded by community, to serve.

So in Hildegard’s own words, “Spirit of Life, bless us as we enter this new time, and as we bless one another in peace.”

Conclusion: Bridget Mary

Now we rejoice that our mustard seed movement is growing in the New York State Capital Region as we ordain Kathie, Phoebe Joan, Kim, and Edmund John . Let us live as co-creators in the community of creation with the mystics, prophets and rebels of all ages! Each of us is the face of God in our world!

Friday, June 26, 2015

Last Wednesday, June 24, representatives from several Indiana faith traditions came together for a Prayer Vigil for Peace in the aftermath of the shootings at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina. Pictured is Annie Watson (ARCWP) along with inclusive Catholic and Protestant clergy from other congregations in the Indianapolis/Bloomington area. Annie read from Mark 4:35-41, the story of Jesus calming the storm.

Loving God,You sent Jesus to show us the face of God and to help us experience Boundless Love always embracing us in our joys and sorrows.May we reflect the compassion of Christ to everyone we meet today especially the ones who are grieving great losses.May we hold our sisters and brothers at Mother Emmanuel Church in Charleston South Carolina in the embrace of Christ. May we treat one another as the beloved of God, all races, one family. Let us take action to live justice and end violence in our world. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

"In the United States we say 'Remember 911,' 'Remember Normandy,' 'Remember the Holocaust,' but when we remember our history of slavery and racism, too many people say, 'Get over it!'

I welcome you; indeed let us welcome each other in
the presence of the Christos, the Risen One, and recognize the graced presence
of each other.May we experience God’s
consolation and peace as we “pray our goodbyes.”

May our prayer
today be a profound thank you, “Deo gratias”

[THANKS Be to
GOD!] for the life of Debbie Becker.

Opening Prayer

Deb: daughter, sister,
mother, grandma, friend has gone to her rest in the peace of Christ.With faith and hope, let us assist her with
our prayers.In silence, let us be united
with her.

God of Abraham and Sarah,

Moses and Miriam,

Miriam and Joseph, the
parents of Jesus,

God of all creation, of the
living and the dead,

Hear our prayer this day as
we remember Deb.

Gracious God,

We pray for Agnes, who mourns
her daughter’s death and knows the sorrow of all parents who have buried a
child;

Holy and Mysterious One,

We pray for her children: Jimmy
and Mindy, and Duane; her grandchildren: Tyler, Derek, Giovanni and Kieran;

We pray for her brothers Tim
and Bob;

her nephews Jared, Evan and
Jonathan, her niece Jessica and grandnephews Tristan and Jude and all who have
been friend and neighbor.

Embrace us all in your love;
grant us consolation and peace.

We make this prayer in the
name of Jesus, our brother, who accompanies us all on our life’s journey.R:
AMEN

Song: I am the one within you by Karen Drucker

First Reading

St. Paul’s Letter to the
Romans (Romans 8:15-17, 35, 38)

The
Spirit that God has given you does not enslave you and

trap
you in fear; instead, through the Spirit, God has

adopted
you as children, and by that Spirit we cry out,

“ABBA!”

God’s
Spirit joins with our spirit to declare that we are

God’s
children.And if we are children, we are
heirs as

well:
heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.

What
will separate us from the love of Christ?

Trouble?

Calamity?

Persecution?

Hunger?

Nakedness?

Danger?

Violence?

For I am certain that
neither death nor life, neither angels

nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, neither

heights nor depths – nor
anything else in all creation – will

be able to separate us from
the love of God that comes to us

in Christ Jesus.

The Word of God.R. Thanks be to God!

Gospel Reading

A Reading from the
Gospel according to John (11: 17-45)

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been
in the tomb for four days.Since Bethany
was only about two miles from Jerusalem, many people had come out to console
Martha and Mary about their brother.When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while
Mary stayed at home with the mourners.

When she got to Jesus, Martha said, “If you had been here, my brother
would never have died!Yet even now, I
am sure that God will give you whatever you ask.”

“Your brother will rise again!”Jesus assured her.Martha replied,
“I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus told her, “I am the Resurrection and I am Life: those who
believe in me will live, even if they die; and those who are alive and believe
in me will never die.Do you believe
this?”

“Yes!” Martha replied.“I have
come to believe that you are the Messiah, God’s Only Begotten, the One who is
coming into the world.”

When she had said this, Martha went back and called her sister
Mary.“The Teacher is here, asking for
you,” she whispered.

As soon as Mary heard this, she got up and went to him.Jesus hadn’t gotten to the village yet.He was at the place where Martha had met
him.Those who were there consoling her
saw her get up quickly, and they followed Mary, thinking she was going to the
tomb to mourn.When Mary got to Jesus,
she fell at his feet and said, “If you had been here, Lazarus never would have
died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the other mourners as well, he was
troubled in spirit, moved by the deepest emotions.

“Where have you laid him?” Jesus asked.

“Come and see,” they said.And
Jesus wept.

The people in the crowd began to remark, “See how much he loved
him!”Other said, “He made the blind
person see; why couldn’t he have done something to prevent Lazarus’ death?”

Again, Jesus was deeply moved.They approached the tomb, which was a cave with a stone in front of
it.“Take away the stone,” Jesus
directed.

Martha said, “Rabbi, it has been four days now.By this time there will be a stench.”

Jesus replied, “Didn’t I assure you that if you believed you would see
the glory of God?”So they took the
stone away.

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “ABBA, thank you for having
heard me.I know that you always hear
me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd, that they might believe
that you sent me!”

Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

And Lazarus came out of the tomb, still bound hand and foot with linen
strips, his face wrapped in a cloth.

Jesus told the crowd, “Untie him, and let him go free.”

The
Good News of Jesus, the Christ!

Reflection / Remembrance

My friends, we believe that all the ties of affection, family and
friendship which we experience in our lives DO NOT unravel with death. And so I ask you, what will you remember
about Debbie (in one or two words)? [allow
time for community to respond]

Remembrance by

Reflective Thoughts (Homily) by JTM

Our Father

When his friends asked how to
pray, Jesus responded:

O
Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!

Soften
the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your

presence can abide.
Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of

your mission.
Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with your desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to

grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us,

as we release others from the entanglement of past
mistakes.
Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose,

but illuminate the opportunities of the present
moment.

For you are the ground and fruitful vision,

the
birth, power and fulfillment,
as all is gathered and made whole once again.

-Based on
the original Aramaic by Neil Douglas Klotz

And so let us stand, hold
hands and pray the Jesus prayer as we have been taught ………………..

Closing Prayer

We rejoice because the name
of Deborah Jean Becker has been written for all ages in the palm of your divine
hand.

May our funeral gathering
today remind us of what we know in faith and what we await with hope ----- that nothing dies, but rather that life is
only transformed into new life.

We know that Deb is now
reunited with her father, Robert,

her grandparents Etola and
Harry, and George and Mary Grace,her
uncles Jim and Tom, her aunts, Eileen, Josephine and Grace, cousins David,
Donald, Joe, Keith and all those friends including her canine and feline
companions who predeceased her.

We give you thanks for the
blessings you bestowed on her in this life and we thank you for the gift she
was to each of us.

Song of FarewellThe Hand of God Shall Hold You –Marty Haugen

The hand of God shall hold you,

The peace of God enfold you,

The love that dreamed and formed you still surrounds you here today;

The light of God beside you, above, beneath, inside you,

The light that shines to guide you home to the loving hand of God.

[in the presence of our God.]

[to the loving arms
of God.]

Although we will leave this
place in sorrow, we are confident and full of faith that we shall see Debbie
again in the peace and joy of the Divine presence for all eternity.

Until that day Deb, may
perpetual light shine upon you.

R. AMEN

May your soul and the souls
of all our beloved departed, rest in peace.R. AMEN

Deb,

Go forth in peace and without fear,

For God who created you has always protected you,

and loves
you as a mother.

Blessed be you, my God, for having created her.

-Saint Clare of Assisi [adapted]

Blessing and Dismissal

May God’s love,

the peace of Jesus, the
Christ,

and the consolation ofSophia Spirit gently wipe every tear from our
eyes;

and continue to bless us, and
all we love

in the name of God, the
Creator;

Jesus the Teacher;

and the Holy Spirit who
inspires our every breath.R. AMEN

Go in the peace of the Cosmic
Christ.R. THANKS BE TO GOD.Song: The Hand of God Shall Hold You by Marty Haugen